I had no idea that it would continue for such a long time, and I am experiencing pain on the inside. From the moment I started the game, this head injury has been consuming me, and it has cost me a lot of money. Raphael Varane, a star player for Manchester United, has revealed that his brain injury is becoming worse every time he plays a match. This announcement has caused a lot of people to break their hearts. 💔❤️‍🩹

In light of football’s evolving approach towards concussion testing, Varane’s incidents occurred prior to the establishment of such protocols. One pivotal match affected was against Manchester City in the 2020 Champions League round of sixteen.

Reflecting on the game, Varane confessed to feeling off during warm-up and struggling to maintain focus throughout. Despite technically sound performances, he battled lethargy and likened himself to a spectator. Real Madrid’s subsequent 2-1 loss led to their elimination from the competition.

Recalling a similar incident during a league match against Getafe, Varane endured a five-day recovery period after a head injury from a corner kick, experiencing profound fatigue thereafter. He later realized this exhaustion was a symptom of concussion, initially attributing it to end-of-season weariness.

He also recounted a similar event during the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal against Germany, noting his poorest performances correlated with past concussions. Reflecting, Varane questioned if he would have played had he been aware of his condition, highlighting the absence of concussion protocols or awareness in football at the time.

Varane acknowledged greater concussion understanding in the UK but highlighted Spain’s relatively less discourse on the matter. Unlike the UK, Spain lacks concussion substitution rules, posing challenges to player health.

Varane’s comments underscore the importance of concussion protocols and heightened awareness in football, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to safeguard player well-being.

His experiences underscore the potential risks of playing with a concussion and stress the importance of prioritizing player safety, particularly as football evolves.